Universal clock



March 10, 1942. L. BOOHARIN UNIVERSAL CLOCK Filed Aug. 5, 19:59

INVENTOR. 00 3/. B 00A a 1m Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE UNIVERSAL CLOCK Leo Y. Booharin, San Francisco, Calif.Application August 5, 1939, Serial No. 288,625

2 Claims.

My invention relates to universal clocks.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a universal clock which isdesigned to indicate local time for every part of the earth at anymoment.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a universal clock whichindicates local time for every part of the earth by means of timemeridians covering a graphic representation of the earths surface, suchas a map.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed'which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and eflicientfor the purpose intended.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of the Fig. 2,showing the gear arrangement.

In general, my device consists of a graphic representation of the earthssurface, such as a map, upon which a number, preferably twentyfour, oftime meridians is drawn, each representing an hour. Between each pair ofsaid meridians additional meridians may be drawn representing fractionsof an hour. An indicator is provided to give certain time value to eachof the meridians which time value gradually changes, so that by means ofsaid indicator and time meridians the local time of any part of theworld may be easily determined at any moment.

In the preferred form, my device consists of a map 5 of the earthssurface with time meridians I, drawn on a front wall 8 of my device.There are twenty-four time meridians shown on the map corresponding totwenty-four hours during which the earth makes one revolution around itsaxis, but, as has been stated, additional time meridians may be drawnbetween the meridians I to indicate the fractions of an hour. Themeridians terminate at an arm III drawn on said front wall 8. Withinsaid are III there is a half circle II drawn on said wall 8, which isdivided into twenty-four equal parts, each corresponding to an hour, andeach of which is connected with the corresponding meridian by aconnecting line I2. In this way every meridian is tied up to a certaindivision. If certain time value is given to any meridian, for instancelet the central meridian I I represent 12 oclock noon, then the value ofthe rest of the meridians can be easily determined. But as the time goesby, the time value of the meridians 55 changes. Therefore, the means areprovided for gradual change of the time value of each meridian. Saidmeans consists of a standard time clock mechanism I5, electrically ormechanically operated ,and having an ordinary hour shaft I6 extendingtherefrom and terminating with an hour hand I'I. Within the shaft I6there is a minute shaft I8 which extends beyond said shaft I6 andterminates with a minute hand III. A usual knob 20 is provided formanual setting of time.

In addition to above described standard clock mechanism I provide asmall gear affixed to the hour shaft I6 and an idle gear 26 freelyrotating about a stub shaft 27 affixed to the mechanism I5, said idlegear being in constant mesh with the gear 25. The gear 26 meshes with aninternally cut gear 30, which freely rotates about the hour shaft I6.The gears 25 and 30 are so selected that the latter rotates four timesslower than the former. Furthermore, the gear 30 rotates in directionopposite to that of the gear 25.

The gear 30 carries an indicator 3I in form of a disk, the upper half ofwhich fits within the half circle II. The indicator is preferably madeof light material, such as Celluloid, or plastics, and has a collar 32which snugly fits the outer rim 33 of said gear 30 so that ordinarily itwill rotate with the latter, but may be easily rotated thereabout by anexternal force. The upper end of the collar 32 is preferably bentinwardly about the rim 33 in a few places, as indicated at 35 to preventaccidental displacement of the indicator 3I from said gear.

The periphery of the indicator 3I is divided into 48 divisions numberedby two rows of figures shown in close proximity to each other. The firstrow runs from 1 to 12 inclusively four times, and the second row runsfrom 1 to 24 two times. The first row indicates in usual way the time inhours, but as the first row alone cannot indicate whether the time is a.m. or p. m., a second row of figures is provided, by means of which itis made possible to determine at a glance whether the time referred to acertain meridian is a. m. or p. In. As shown in the Fig. 1 all meridianseast of the meridian running through the center of the drawing indicatep. In. time.

In order to bring the indicator 3I into proper relation with themeridians, I provide a plunger 40, which is preferably made of rubber,and which is disposed in close proximity to the collar 32. The plungeris carried by a shaft 4| slidable in two parallel walls 42 and 43 whichare connected with the clock mechanism l5. The shaft 4| terminates witha knob 45 by means of which said shaft may be pushed inwardly againstthe resistance of a small spring 46 urging said shaft outwardly. Bypushing the knob 45 to the clock mechanism l5 the plunger 40 is broughtinto frictional engagement with the collar 32, and by rotating said knobthe collar 32 with indicator 3| will be rotated around the gear 30 andthereby brought in desired position.

In front of the indicator 3| and in close proximity therewith I disposea clock dial 5!] which is semi-circular in the middle and has broadshoulders 5| on each side covering the lower half of the indicator 3|.The clock hands, dial, and indicator are preferably covered with aglasscover 53.

The operation of the device isas follows. The

correct time is set on the clock by moving the minute and the hour handsin usual manner, as for example at 10 oclock. Then the operator locatesthe place of his abode on the map, let it be for example San Francisco,California, and notices which meridian runs through said place or inclose proximity thereto, which in our case will be the meridian denotedby the numeral 55. Then the operator, by means of the knob 45, rotatesthe indicator 3| until the division marked l0 shall coincide with theline l2 connected with the meridian 55, as shown in Fig. 1. If the timeis 10 oclock p. m., then the indicator should be rotated in a mannerdisclosed in counterclockwise direction until said connecting line shallcoincide with the division marked l0 and 22. If the place of abode islocated on the map between two meridians, the indicator must be so setthat the divisions thereof indicating the correct local time is set inthe same relation between the two adjoining lines l2 connected with saidmeridians, as said place of abode is in relation to the meridians.

When the indicator 3| is correctly set, local time for any place can beeasily found. The place, the local time of which it is desired to' find,is first located on the map and then the corresponding meridian crossingit, or passing near by is traced down to the indicator 3| to determinewhat particular time corresponds to said meridian. For instance Fig. 1shows that when it is 10 oclock a. m. in San Francisco, it is 6 oclockp. m. in England and 3 oclock a. m. in Japan.

The indicator 3| rotates four times slower than the hour hand of theclock, as it has been explained heretofore, but, as the periphery of theindicator 3| is divided into forty-eight divisions. each divisionrepresents an hour. The indicator moves in counterclockwise direction,with the sun, gradually changing the time value of the meridians, butthe time relation between various parts of the earth remains unchanged.

It shall be within the scope of this invention to provide twenty-fourdivisions on the indicator 3|, instead of forty-eight as shown in thedrawing, in which case the meridians shall be equally spaced around thewhole periphery of the indicator, and the latter must rotate only twotimes slower than the hour hand of the clock.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1'. A'universal clock comprising a map of the earths surface; timemeridians drawn thereupon; a clock mechanism having usual hour andminute hands rotated by the corresponding hour and minute shafts, saidclock mechanism being located below said map; a gear carried by the hourshaft; an idle gear meshing with the first mentioned gear; an internallycut gear adapted to mesh with the idle gear and to rotate around thehour shaft; a circular indicator carried by said'internally' cut gear;means for adjusting the position of the indicator in relation to theinternally cut gear; a half-circle drawn on the map and circumscribing ahalf of said indicator, said half-circle being divided into a number ofdivisions equal to the number of the time meridians; and connectinglines connecting the points of division of said half-circle with themeridians.

2. A universal clock comprising a map of the earths surface; timemeridians drawn thereupon; a clock mechanism having usual hour andminute hands rotated by the corresponding hour and minute shafts; a gearcarried by the hour shaft; an idle gear meshing with the first mentionedgear; a third gear meshing with the idle gear and rotating around thehour shaft in the irection opposite to that of the said shaft; a

- circular indicator carried by said third gear; a

half-circle drawn onthe map co-centrically with said indicator anddivided into a number of divisions equal to the number of the timemeridians; and connecting lines connecting the points of division ofsaid half-circle with the meridians.

LEO Y. BOOHARIN.

